Half to joseph schulze



(No Model.)

B. HELLER.

MATCH BOX. No. 356,405. Patented Jan. 18, 1887.

WITNESSES:

N, PETERS, Mo-Lllhugnphln Wnhmglon, n. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICEr.

ROBERT HELLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOJOSEPH SOHULZE, OF SAME PLACE.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,405. dated January18, 1887.

Application filed June 12, 1886.

Serial No. 20l,907. (x model.)

7 To aZZ whom it nuty concern:

Be it knownthat I, ROBERT HELLER, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia,

State ofPennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement inMatch-Boxes, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents aside elevation of a match-box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 representsa top View thereof. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

My invention consists of a match-box having a lid which is incommunication with the body thereof, and provided with a strikingdevice. operated from the side of thelid,which permits the unheaded endof the match to be projected from the lid in advance ofthe strikingoperation, so that the match is not presented to the hand in burningcondition.

Referring to the drawings. A represents the body of a match-box, and Bthe lid hinged thereto. The lid is hollow, and has in itslower or innerwall an opening, O, whereby the body and lid are in communication. Theupper or outer wall of the lid has an opening, D,which is coincidentwith the opening 0, thetwoopenings forming passages for the withdrawalof matches through the lid.

\Vith'in the lid is a match-striking head, E, which is formed of asliding block or piece of v metal or other material, and which, when innormal position, closes the openings 0 D of said lid, it being retainedin said position by the action of a spring, F, which bears against thehead and lid.

Connected with the head is a finger or thumb piece, G, which passesthrough a slot, H, in the side of the lid, so that the head may bereadily moved.

The operation is as follows: The box is overturned or tilted, and thehead E drawn back by means of the piece G, so as to uncover the openings0 D, one of the matches then entering the opening 0, the space betweenthehead E and adjcent end of the lid and the opening D, the head portionof the match remaining within the box or lid. The piece G is now let go,whereby the head E moves toward the match and presses thereagainst. Thematch is then grasped by its protruding end and pulled out to fullextent, whereby as it rubs against the roughened face of the head E, oradjaccntend of the lid, or both, the friction causes the match toignite, and thus the lighting of the same is accomplished.

I am aware that it is not new to form the lid of a match-box with astriking surface or head, and the box with a slide for ejecting thematch. In this case the match is struck before it leaves the lid,whereby the burning match is presented to the hand. In my 'case thestriking-head has a pin which projects through a slot in the side of thelid, whereby the head may be drawn back to permit the match to drop fromthe box and lid by gravity, the unheaded end in advance. may-be graspedand the match pulled out, wherebythe burning end leaves the lid thelast.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a match-box, alid having an opening in its upper and lower walls anda slotin its side, a sliding striking head, a spring bearing againstsaid head, and a finger which is secured to said head and projectsthrough said side slot, all substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

ROBERT HELLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHErM, A. P. GRANT.

